CHAPTER 5: I Am the One
"Not today, Satan," Delphi muttered as she walked toward where she blasted Lupin away from her father. She pointed her wand at her father, getting his attention, and said, "Tom Riddle III! I always wish I could've met Merope." The simple sentence temporarily shocked the Dark Lord, who was not prepared to hear his mother's name in anything resembling a situation like this. Especially not from a child! Delphi took her chance where she saw it, "LEGILLIMENCE!" The spell connected, and she plunged into Voldemort's mind.
Inside Voldemort's Mind
"Who are you, child?" A tall and slim middle-aged man with perfect hair and regal features asked as he circled the slightly shorter woman. "And how is it you overcame my Occlumency barriers?"
"I'm your daughter, to both questions." Delphi said with something approaching reverence.
"Impossible. The only woman I've had relations with was Bellatrix. I would have remembered her pregnancy." Delphi still had her mask on, even now, on this plane. Luckily, talent in the mind-arts was something she very much inherited from her father, and not a small bit from her mother either. To survive over a decade in Azkaban, insane or no, required some level of Occlumency. Grindlewald's brutal training helped too. Her father was obviously projecting the appearance of the man he would have looked like had he not been destroyed and remade in a homunculus body.
"I was born in Azkaban." Delphi removed her mask. Time to lie. And time to like big. Delphi had confidence that when she scraped every memory from Rodolphus (of her timeline), ripping his mind apart she gleaned the information needed to lie convincingly in this timeline. Most importantly, how to explain her existence without mentioning time travel; she couldn't risk anybody knowing, especially her father…unless she made them take an Unbreakable Vow or put a Fidelus on the secret.
Thankfully for the integrity of the story she was spinning, her parents were fucking well before her father's first fall, and right up to a week before it. The thought made her queasy, but it did wonders for her cover story. Rodolphus remembered every time his 'wife' would come back from Riddle Manor with that sated grin of hers and smelling of sex. Voldemort even made him watch a couple times, punishment for failed mission on Rodolphus' part, or reward for Bellatrix's victories. But Rodolphus Lestrange knew that to deny the Dark Lord his concubine in any manner would guarantee a horrific death, and Rodolphus was no fool. The Dark Lord even went so far to bar him from touching the woman.
And so the face of Delphi that Voldemort saw was an altered one. Granted, it wasn't much altered, just subtle touches. The trick here was that nobody knew she was a metamorphagus. Before having removed her mask, she had turned her hair a wavy black, and tied into a smart ponytail. Her eyes were his eyes, so was her nose. She definitely inherited the Riddle looks, or at least, it was easy to make him believe so. Her height helped sell her story as well; not quite as tall as Voldemort, but nearly a foot taller than the female average. But her high cheekbones and grin were undoubtedly that of Bellatrix.
However, the most defining feature was that she was young, easily young enough to pass as a fourteen-year old. After all, if Bellatrix was 'pregnant' when she entered Azkaban, Delphi could be no older than fifteen. Granted, the things Tom Riddle was capable of at fifteen allowed him to believe that his daughter born of himself and Bellatrix of the Black family would absolutely be able to dance toe to toe with his Death Eaters. "One of the female guards took pity on me and spirited me away. She didn't want to see a baby lose her soul you see. If she notified the other Aurors, they'd have fed me to the Dementors or thrown me into the North Sea. She dumped me in an orphanage in the muggle world that day, and obliviated mum. Because I was born in an unplottable location, I wasn't on the Hogwarts Rolls, nor the Ministry Record of Magical Births so I slipped through the cracks. I was powerful as a child, and eventually discovered our world. Who knew that basically living in King's Cross Station would've led to a whole new world? I learned everything I could. I worked wonders with the Imperius curse, access almost any library."
Voldemort regarded his 'daughter' with silence for a long moment before asking, "How do you know my mother's name?" Voldemort asked.
"Once I found out that I belonged to the family Black through a blood test at one of Gringott's branch offices, I sought out my family. By then I learned how to cover my tracks, so I dosed each member I interrogated with enough alcohol and a few other certain potions to muddle their experience of me as simply an interesting night out at the pub. Narcissa was difficult; she barely leaves the Manor." Delphi chuckled. Sometimes the truth out of context was the best lie. In her original timeline, this is exactly what she did. "Her memories included knowledge that her elder sister Bellatrix had been involved with you. It was known among your followers you were Salazar's heir, so tracing the family line through the centuries down to Marvolo, Morphin, and Merope Gaunt was child's play. Well, literally actually. But After that, it was simple to find the story of the Riddles' demise and read between the lines, especially when there was such a famous Riddle that was at Hogwarts. Though I admit the ability to talk with snakes really helped point me in the right direction. So long as you feed them, they tell quite the tales. I've spent my whole life waiting to meet you." Delphi was breathing heavily after speaking in a rush.
"And yet you slaughter my followers," Voldemort pointed out with a growl.
"I'm fourteen. If I can defeat them, how useful to you are they?" Delphi pointed out with a petulant pout.
"That's not an answer." her Father replied with distaste.
"To prove myself to you. That I am worthy of your legacy." Delphi responded a little more quietly.
"Where is your mother?" Voldemort asked, with real venom in his voice.
At this, Delphi looked down and allowed her real rage to disguise her lies, "She's dead. In the hall of prophecy, the children destroyed the shelves and one of them crushed her after Ronald Weasley's reductor curse spun her into its path." Delphi didn't have to fake the hatred she felt for Ron Weasley. The real challenge was pretending she did care around the kids. Frankly, she could understand Ginny, Draco, and Harry jumping back into time to stop her. Minister Granger too. Ronald Weasley was probably just in it for the glory. He ran a fucking joke shop of all things because he couldn't hack it as an Auror. Delphi reigned in her visible vitriol that she knew her father would feel. Which was why blending the truth without proper context was the best way to lie. "But Malfoy had the opportunity to save her, and he let it slip through his fingers."
Voldemort grimaced, and then nodded, "I see. Unexpected, but no great loss. I fear that Bella had lost much of her utility after her incarceration. And her appeal." What. Delphi was jarred by his callousness towards his lover.
"What? That's it?" Delphi's easily lit temper now turned upon her father. Was mother really nothing to him? Was she just a broodmare to cement his legacy? What does that make me? "She loved you. She could have loved me!" Delphi shouted at him. The daughter didn't actually kill her mother, but she was really getting to know her father by maintaining the lie.
Despite her real age being into her mid-twenties, Delphi being confronted with both her deeply flawed parents in the midst of a battle was playing havoc with her emotions. She was powerful, but that didn't mean she was strong in every aspect.
"I doubt that girl. She was a blade, one wielded with precision to devastating effect. She was certainly not prone to sentiment. And then her capture and incarceration were…foolish. Easily avoided. She was a broken woman before, but after Azkaban, these last few months, even her body became hideous to me," he said without a care. "Since we've been speaking Parseltongue thus far, I suppose I have to accept the likelihood of you being my spawn. You will bow to me, and take my mark. And then we will kill these swine." His aristocratic features were marred his snarl of greed. Delphi realised she was nothing to him. Just a blade, same as her mother. Perhaps it was naïve to hope for anything else, she thought to herself with crushing disappointment.
Delphi never felt so validated in her life. But her insane plan to save her mother from this broken shell of the man her father once was had been the right thing to do. She wasn't sure until this moment. But now she didn't have to hold back. "How can you say that! I waited my whole life to see her, and now she's GONE. And you don't even care!" Delphi screamed at him. Her younger face really sold her expression of childish angst.
"Silence girl. We are wasting time speaking of that woman, especially now I have you. You will control yourself. You know that Dumbledore and the Ministry will destroy you if they discover our connection. Your only path forward is with me. And with your temper? You'll only be safe under my control. Take my Mark, and rule at my side, daughter; I will not offer it a third time."
"I've waited my entire life for this moment, Dad." Delphi nearly whispered the term of endearment to herself. She knew it was the last time she'd say it to him. Even in their shared mindscape, her fury forced her eyes to flare red as she looked up at her father, "I killed your men to prove myself to you; to show you that they are nothing but shoddily made marionettes on severed strings, while I was something more. Somebody powerful. I wanted to rule at your side. But I'm no one's slave," Delphi spat as she ripped herself from his mind.
She had given him a test, and he failed spectacularly. Despite her confidence in her course, she couldn't help but mourn the fact that she had also failed his test; even if in passing she'd have lost herself to Voldemort.
Back in the room with the Veil of Death
She was…disappointed. No, she was crushed. Tears streamed from her eyes as she mentally prepared her contingency. Rather, she had already executed the vast majority contingency plan to this encounter. Delphi was not a fool. From the memories of several of people, she knew what her father was; and the real possibility of him rejecting her.
She also raided Potter's memories as he slept that night she removed against his will the Deathly Hallows from his possession for good, and became the Master of Death.
Upon arriving, Delphi was very ready to walk out of the ministry with both her parents, but Father…he wasn't Tom Riddle anymore. He was barely even Voldemort. He was just a broken doll, masquerading as a man. And her father knowing that she was out there, he'd see her as a rival. He would stop at nothing to kill her. And so she reached into her pockets, and prepared to fulfil the prophecy. She had done her research, and it was time to win.
"Daughter! You will obey only me," Voldemort spat as he shook his head, settling his mind from their conversation in his head. In reality, only a second or so passed. Nobody was any the wiser that they had a full and revealing conversation. There were some gasps as he spoke of their connection for everyone to hear.
Delphi closed her eyes, tears streaking down her pale cheeks for a moment before smothering the sorrow building up in her chest; she'd deal with it later. Now, it was time to put on a goddamn show. "Mum's dead and you don't even care!" Delphi screamed back at him, making everyone buy into her 'performance'. It helped her rage for him was real. Her resentment of him was real. But so too was her love; which was why her voice was broken as she shouted at the man she'd idolized her whole life.
Even Dumbledore stopped for a moment at this exchange. "What is she doing?" the headmaster muttered to himself. He had seen her deal with the remaining Death Eaters; she was no slouch. So he gave her the benefit of the doubt in taking on his least-favourite student.
Nobody realised Harry started breathing again, horcrux taking the hit. He was still unconscious though.
Delphi decided to end this. She'd speak to Dumbledore about it afterwards, about Harry, about her own future, and about Grindlewald; she had an oath to complete after all. But she had to push herself through these next crucial moments without wavering. Hidden in her hood and behind her mask, her features began to morph to reflect the ravenette teenage girl she had shown her father in their mindscape.
Delphi drew from her pockets and adorned herself with Slytherin's locket. She cancelled the disillusionment charm on the Gaunt Family ring. She put on Ravenclaw's diadem, (Delphi preferred crown), and tossed the cup of Hufflepuff at her feet. She then dug out a fucked up diary, hole right through the middle of it and tossed that in the cup, which tilted over with a pathetic clanging sound. "You're mortal, you piece of shit! You ruined my life! My mother's life! You ruined EVERYTHING!" Delphi screamed at him as she ripped her mask off and tossed that aside too.
Her messy bun came undone, her hair spooling about her shoulders, it was so dark it was almost blue. She subtly grew in height a couple inches to match her father, completing the transformation. She was every inch her parents' daughter: a beautiful if haughty young woman with a hell of a lot of rage. The adults were baffled, and the children (who were awake and aware) were confused, but they stayed silent.
"What is this?" Voldemort gasped as he beheld his horcruxes before him. But before he went into a full-blown panic, he remembered Nagini. His traitorous daughter sought to usurp him? She'll die like the rest. I can make another child, and this time, they'll be LOYAL TO ME.
"I found out your secret, Father. The founders' items and your schoolboy diary. You're done for. Surrender, now." Delphi grit her teeth. She saw the Auror's itching to get in on the action. "DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE FIRE FIRST," she roared at Mad-Eye, who backed down at a swift look from Dumbledore.
The headmaster was nearly trembling in anticipation, the girl knew about the horcruxes! And she's beaten him! Delphi shoved the wand in her left hand back into her pocket. She wouldn't need it for what was about to happen.
"Last chance, my darling daughter. Serve me or join your whore mother in death." Voldemort spat. At that moment, the rest of the Auror's arrived, including Amelia Bones and Rufus Scrimgeour. Delphi and Voldemort both noticed the new entrants and realised things had to end, now. Delphi shook her head violently in response to his demand.
Delphi yelled, preparing herself for what was about to happen. "STUPEFY!" A massive crimson jet fired from Delphi's right handed wand.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort screamed back. Green and Crimson jets of light whistled right by each other heading for their intended targets. "Avada Kedavra," Voldemort whispered, sending a second curse as Delphi went to dodge the first one. Voldemort casually shrugged out of the way of Delphi's stunner.
Delphi did dodge the first Killing Curse to close the distance. And then her father fired his second killing curse at her. Her left arm was outstretched to her side. Voldemort grinned at his daughter. But then he realised something was very wrong. She was grinning right back, and her eyes flashed crimson as she hissed in Parseltongue, 'Nagini,' she winked. She knew about the final horcrux! Voldemort panicked as his daughter's grin registered. A body, Dolohov, was summoned between them as Voldemort's Avada Kedavra was about to strike Delphi.
Voldemort's second Killing Curse slammed into the now corpse of Dolohov. Delphi darted underneath it and lunged at her father, her BC-41 trench knife gleamed in her hand. Her left arm grabbed his wand and turned it way from her body, avoiding the wordless shriek of her father. A third killing curse flew out of his intercepted wand and struck the ground beside them harmlessly.
Delphi had closed the distance between them completely. With Voldemort's wand now rendered useless, he looked into his daughter's eyes. The same BC-41 trench knife she used to end Umbridge was in her hand, and with one cry, she plunged it right through his sternum into his heart. The way they ended up standing against each other seemed like a cruel parody of a hug with Voldemort's arm around Delphi's shoulder, trying to gain an advantage. Delphi knew this was exactly as close to a hug from her dad as she'd ever get, and she couldn't help but let out a sob.
Horror was his final expression as he was enveloped in the comforting arms of Death. Unseen to all but Delphi, The tall hooded woman with the red cloak and hair as black as ink, wielding an elegant two metre scythe calmly removed the Soul from Tom Riddle's body.
Death stopped and laid a hand the knife in Delphi's hand, still embedded in her father's chest. Death sent a strange tingle of magic through the relic of a weapon from WWII to Delphi herself. Death winked at Delphi, whose face was streaked with her father's lifeblood. Death put a soft hand to Delphi's forehead in some sort of gesture the girl didn't understand before walking straight through the Veil holding the last remnant of Voldemort's soul.
There was silence as Delphi stood there victorious. Voldemort's body was still propped up as it leaned against Delphi. Delphi withdrew the 1940's era muggle weapon she used to end the most powerful Dark Lord of the century. The sound as it scraped against his chest-plate and splattered more blood onto her would haunt her forever. She dropped the BC-41 knife and before it clattered to the ground, it faded from existence. But Delphi didn't notice. She didn't notice the shouts of jubilation as the Aurors, the Students, and the Order celebrated Lord Voldemort's death.
Delphi was too busy to notice the ecstatic relief and joy around her because she was hugging her father's corpse as she openly sobbed.